Friday, March 15, 2013

The Spirit of Adventure Foundation 'Pure Adventure' weekend recently took place at Brantwood House.Brantwood is spectacularly locatedoverlooking Coniston Waterwith views towards Coniston village and the high fells above including The Old Man of Coniston.

The View Across Coniston Water From Brantwood.

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) lived at Brantwood House for the last 27 years of his life. Ruskin was a writer, painter, art critic, social reformer and philanthropist. His writing was hugely influential being an inspiration for the first Trade Union leaders, the Arts and Crafts Movement, the
founding of the National Trust, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. His ideas led to improvements in working conditions, housing, health care and the quality of the natural environment.

Ghandi read Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' and it changed his life.

" I
translated it later into Gujarati entitling it ‘Sarvodaya’
(the welfare of all). I believe that I discovered some of my
deepest convictions reflected in this great book of Ruskin
and that is why it so captured me and made me transform my
life.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Many of Ruskin's thoughts on the problems of the Victorian era - like the negative empact of unbridled capitalism, remain current today.

Ruskin Self Portrait

1. Modern travelling is not travelling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel.

2.The first test of a truly great man is in his humility.

3. A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.

4.Every increased possession loads us with new weariness.

5.When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

6. When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.

Welcome!

Pyrenees Mountain Adventure offers summer trekking and winter snowshoeing adventures in the Eastern Pyrenees (France and Andorra). We specialise in hut to hut treks along World War II underground escape and evasion lines from France into Spain across the Pyrenees.

This blog will provide regular posts about where I have been in the Pyrenees and what I have been up to. I will also share my thoughts on wilderness, its importance and why it needs to be protected. I will also post about other interests of mine including World War II escape routes over the Pyrenees.